Pompeia Plotina
Pompeia Plotina Claudia Phoebe Piso or Potius piolet (d. 121/122) was a Roman Empress and wife of Roman Emperor Trajan. She was renowned for her interest in philosophy, and her virtue, dignity and simplicity. She was particularly devoted to the Epicurean philosophical school in Athens, Greece.[1] Through her influence, she provided Romans with fairer taxation, improved education, assisted the poor, and created tolerance in Roman society.
Plotina was born and was raised in Tejada la Vieja (Escacena del Campo) in the province of Hispania during the reign of Roman Emperor Nero (r. 54–68). She was the daughter of Lucius Pompeius and Plotia, who had extensive political and familial connections. Trajan married her before his accession and, although a happy marriage, they had no known children. In 100, Trajan awarded her with title of Augusta, but she did not accept the title until 105. Plotina did not appear also on the coinage until 112.[1]
Trajan and Plotina became the guardians of the future Roman Emperor Hadrian, who was about 10 or 11 when he lost his father, a first cousin once removed to Trajan (Trajan's father and Hadrian's paternal grandmother were siblings). Plotina was fond of him and strongly encouraged his adoption by the dying Trajan, which occurred at Selinunte in Sicily in August 117.[1]
When Plotina died, c. 121/122, she was deified. Hadrian built a temple in her honor at Nîmes, in Provence.
Nerva–Antonine family tree
- (1) = 1st spouse
- (2) = 2nd spouse (not shown)
- (3) = 3rd spouse
- SMALL CAPS = posthumously deified (Augusti, Augustae, or other)
- dashed lines indicate adoption; the dotted line indicates the relationship between Hadrian and Antinous
| Marcia | TRAJANUS PATER | NERVA (r. 96–98) | Ulpia | Aelius Marullinus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G. Salonius Matidius Patruinus | MARCIANA | TRAJAN (r. 98–117) | PLOTINA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aelius Afer | Paulina Major | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | MATIDIA | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rupilia Annia | M. Annius Verus | Rupilia Faustina | SABINA | HADRIAN (r. 117-138) | Antinous | Paulina Minor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domitia Lucilla | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Libo | FAUSTINA | ANTONINUS PIUS (r. 138–161) | Aelius | Julia Paulina | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cornificia | MARCUS AURELIUS (r. 161–180) | FAUSTINA Minor | Aurelia Fadilla | two infant sons | Salinator | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VERUS (r. 161–169) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fadilla | Cornificia | COMMODUS (r. 177–192) | nine other children | Lucilla | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Simon Hornblower and Anthony Spawforth-E.A. (edd.), Oxford Classical Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 2003, p. 1214.
| Royal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Domitia Longina |
Empress of Rome 98–117 |
Succeeded by Vibia Sabina |
Further reading
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Plotina. |
- (French) Minaud, Gérard, Les vies de 12 femmes d’empereur romain - Devoirs, Intrigues & Voluptés , Paris, L’Harmattan, 2012, ch. 6, La vie de Plotine, femme de Trajan, p. 147-168.